Recommendations

College Success Task Force

Ensure that by 2011 all districts have PreK-12 curricula and graduation requirements aligned to the Common Core Standards and back-mapped from the college- and career-ready standards.

Recommendation # 1

Based on the Common Core Standards, develop by June 2011 college/career readiness assessments with an agreed-upon readiness score.

Recommendation # 2

Include a general college/career-ready endorsement and a STEM-specific endorsement for qualified students on the high school diploma beginning with the incoming 9th grade class of 2011.

Recommendation # 3

Align P-20 education models with the wide variety of learning needs in the state’s population.

Recommendation # 4

By July 2011, develop a collaborative statewide system of support for PreK-12 and higher education to ensure both a smooth transition from high school to college/career and success in college.

Recommendation # 5

Convene during the 2010-11 school year a group of P-20 stakeholders – to include deans and directors of teacher education and appropriate PreK-12 staff – to examine how the State and education institutions can best address challenges for teacher preparation and professional development in the 21st century.

Recommendation # 6

By July 2011, develop a communications campaign for college and career readiness that focuses on (a) the expectation that every child in Maryland will be ready for college and (b) students’ and families’ awareness of the availability of state, federal, college-based, and private financial aid programs and scholarship opportunities.

Recommendation # 7

Establish by July 2011 agreed-upon growth models for college/career readiness that require: a) high schools to publish according to the defined model the percentage of students who graduate college/career- ready; and b) colleges and universities to publish according to the defined model the percentage of full-time students who are retained each year and who were previously declared college/career-ready.

Recommendation # 8